Frogmouths

Frogmouths are nocturnal birds spread across the Indomalayan and Australasian regions, related to owlet-nightjars and swifts, with a resemblance to owls due to convergent evolution. Characterized by their large, flattened hooked bills that resemble a frog's gape, frogmouths mainly feed on insects but some species also prey on small vertebrates. The larger Podargus species, found in Australia and New Guinea, take bigger prey, sometimes using stones to kill their catch, while the ten Batrachostomus species from tropical Asia stick mostly to insects and have slightly different bill shapes with protective bristles. These birds lay up to three white eggs on tree branches, with females incubating at night and males during the day. Typically, they exhibit weak flight and spend daylight hours resting on branches, blended into their surroundings with cryptic plumage. Frogmouths were previously classified with nightjars but are now considered a separate group and are closer to swifts and hummingbirds. Distinct species like the Tawny, Marbled, and Papuan Frogmouths, amongst others, make up this unique bird family, which also includes a new genus Rigidipenna identified in the Solomon Islands. Recent DNA studies suggest that Asian frogmouths might constitute a new family. Strikingly, an aesthetics study determined frogmouths as the most "instagrammable" birds, embracing their photogenic allure that garners significant attention on social media platforms.